The US has a lot of catching up to do with other countries with cities being nearly zero waste, as well as whole countries achieving 99% renewable energy. Despite this, there is good news. With the updraft of production of wind energy, the United States has reached having 50,000 wind turbines in operation to fight global warming. As well, we now have 980 wind farms in operation. This all brings 70 gigawatts of wind energy to the power grid! Countries around the world have had climate change gaining more attention, bringing the countries to look for sustainable ways of producing energy, fast. When someone brings up the fact of how wind turbines can kill so many birds, the heads of the industry retort with the fact that climate change could affect the species much more significantly, and not for the better. But back in the US, with our shift towards renewable energy and away from fossil fuels, it gives a chance to fight against global warming. With a few words of wisdom from Tom Kiernan, CEO of the American Wind Energy Association, “This American wind power success story just gets better. There’s now enough wind power installed to meet the equivalent of total electricity demand in Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Colorado, and Wyoming.”

Here's a map as to where the wind farms of the the US are located. To view the interactive one, click here!

The architect Vincent Callebaut is now giving us a design for another way to possibly be a means to future energy independence. These 3D-printed floating villages would be made from recycled ocean waste, making for sustainable marine architecture. The materials to be used would be the plastic waste that is dumped into our oceans everyday, plus a little of the surplus algae. The design is self-sufficient and mimics nature to adapt to its environment. They show a vision of what living could be for environmentally conscious individuals. To be made using Archibiotics, these structures would use renewable energies and information as well as communication technologies to offer an end to oil-related conflicts. The creator imagines that the inhabitants of these structures would be called The People of the Seas. These People would invent underwater urbanization so people could move to the ocean as well as bring a halt to ocean pollution. They would recycle 100% of their waste and expand their living structures with the recycled material. These structures have been dubbed Aequoreas. With the living material used, they could also expand on their own, like an external skeleton. The semi-permeable membranes in the structures could desalinate water and microalgae to produce energy, and make water for the community. Animals and plants of the underwater type that are rich in minerals, proteins, and vitamins would be kept and grown in “nurseries for the aquatic fauna and flora,” and then be used as food. As well, on board farms would grow fruits, vegetables, and grains. The food would be distributed evenly in reusable, biodegradable containers. Even the furniture is made from bio-based materials. Materials would be synthesized from mussels and other similar animals. According to the architect, it is based on a “eco-conscious individual entrepreneurship,” that would act as the social and economic backbone of a Utopian society.

There's a new mobile, ecofriendly home popping up places in Hong Kong. Created to help solve the city’s problem with real estate prices. Called the ALPOD, it promises city dwellers more freedom on how they want to live and where. This high-tech pod house was created by representatives from AluHouse, James Law Cybertecture, and Arup. This light weight ecohouse is made of aluminum, so it is easy to move from one place to another. This also means it can be recycled once the house is no longer useable. It is adaptable to many climates, it insulates and against heat, and is corrosion and fire resistance. These houses are estimated to last 50 years while still being structurally durable. The house is small, measuring in at 480 square feet (43 square meters), with floors of wood laminate. There is a fairly open floorplan, with a bathroom, kitchen, a living room, and a dining area that doubles as a bedroom. It has many skylights and full-height sliding doors to provide natural lighting, while built-in LED lights are there for night time. As for solving the problem of the city’s real estate prices and overcrowding, these pod houses can be stacked together to form a skyscraper.​

​ If you wish to see the pod, and you happen to be in Hong Kong, you can see it in Kowloon Park at the Hong Kong & Shenzhen Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism \ Architecture. The event has the theme of VISIONS 2050 –Lifestyle and the City. You can see it from December 11, 2015 to Feburary 28, 2016. ​

This cute little portable house that is completely run off of alternative energy is finally on sale.

​Unfortunately, for any of you looking to buy yourself an ecofriendly pod to live in, the first round of ones for sale is going quickly. They only produced 50 for the first production.

Just to remind you all about what this little pod can do, it only has 8.2 square meters of floor space, but can be off the grid, house two people, have a composting toilet, a small kitchen (with a stove), a double bed, and clean wood flooring. It has solar panels on it's roof and an extendable wind turbine attached to the side. All of the lights can be controlled remotely, by smart phone. There is an ample amount of water storage as well. It can be lifted by a crane and pulled by a car.

Right now, the early birds can get their EcoCapsule for 79,000 Euros. They are customizable as well. These 50 pre-ordered pods will ship to the European Union, the United States, Canada, and Australia.

There is good news though, if you miss out on this small shipment. You can buy your own EcoCapsule again after the pre-ordered ones arrive. In 2017. It may be a ways to wait, but for ecofriendly people like us, it may be worth it.

Also, here's a link to the newest video on the EcoCapsule.

In case you hadn't seen our first story on the EcoCapsule, please feel free to visit it here!

So of all ridiculous things, this is a great thing to restart this blog on. Get this. A North Carolina town has rejected plans for a solar farm because the town council believes the project will “suck up all the energy from the sun.” The Woodland town council, upon hearing concerns from the public about a possible solar farm being built nearby, got together to listen to their neighbors’ concerns. These people obviously don’t know what they are talking about because they are concerned that a solar power farm will affect:

The town’s youth

Local businesses

Property values

And the health of local plants

Even a former science teacher is in on this, Jane Mann. She says that she has seen other plants near solar panels fields that have withered and died because “they didn’t get enough sunlight.” She believes that photosynthesis (which depends on sunlight) will be prevented. This would keep the plants from growing. According to the Roanoke-Chowan News Herald, she also said “no one could tell her that solar panels didn’t cause cancer.” Bobby Mann warns that “all the young people are going to move out.” He also believes that the panels will suck up all of the sun’s energy. Another resident, (who doesn’t seem to know where she actually lives) Mary Hobbs, says the solar panels that are already around her house have decreased her property’s value. However, when you look at her house via satellite, her house is surrounded by forests. The representatives from Strata Solar Company have spent some time trying to convince the residents that the solar farm cannot affect them in the ways they have predicted. But, the council has voted 3 to 1 against the solar farm, and against any future ones.

At least these North Carolinian solar panels won’t be causing the apocalypse anytime soon...

What most of the area looks like already

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What will the North Carolinians do next? Reject wind power because they are afraid they will use up the wind supply?

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To keep up to date with the latest information on Alternative Energy, sustainable living, and global warming, read this site! I am trying to update every Sunday, so come back once a week for your newest news.